
When, last year, ‘Strong & Able’ from Pete Belasco hit the airwaves it proved, for those new to his music, to be a complete revelation. With a vocal style that made comparisons with Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield impossible not to make, this sultry cut was right on the money.
Consequently it is astonishing, but totally true, to say that the follow up, ‘Rubber Ball’ is even better. Indeed, for those who grew up to, danced to and made love to albums such as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ ‘Away We A Go-Go’ then this will be nostalgia central. For others who are discovering Belasco for the first time it is a reminder that superbly produced and executed soul music never, ever, gets old.
Billboard Magazine has referred to Belasco as one of a number of new artists responsible for the re-emergence of what it describes as the soul music movement. In fact the multi talented Belasco made his debut in 1997 with ‘Get It Together’, which at the time, was described as a “brilliant example of R&B, blues and jazz fusion”. In fact these comments corresponded with the release of Belasco’s 2004 sophomore CD, ‘Deeper’ which, with original compositions such as ‘Hurry Hurry’, ‘Keep On’ and ‘Wonderful Woman’, garnered considerable interest in both the USA and the United Kingdom. Seven years later Belasco was back with the critically acclaimed ‘Lights On’.